I’ve sung the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” since I could sing. I’m positive that my Mama used her beautiful voice — and her convinced heart — to sing this into my bone marrow as an unborn baby girl, but I don't guess I had stopped to actually listen. When I did, though, I was taken by words I had not paid attention to all these years…“Manifold Witness.”
I started asking myself what this means. You may have known off the top of your head, but honestly, I did not. So, as I have been taught by my mentor...stop and DEFINE YOUR WORDS...I started to dig into the meaning of those words!
It turns out that manifold is very simple. It just means MANY. It is the word witness that holds a little more power. The word has many meanings but in this context, we can refer to the Hebrew word eid or the Greek word martus. It doesn't only mean someone who sees something. No..It means someone who experiences something and is compelled to share what they saw.
So now, go back and really hear those lyrics...
“Summer and winter, springtime and harvest. Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above. Join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love”
Funny enough, the same day that I had this “Great is Thy Faithfulness” moment, I ran across this picture of the smallest hummingbird in the world. It’s the size of a bumblebee, and its wings flap 80 times per second. It's true...this thing is ridiculously cute, but what grabs my attention and causes my heart to leap with wonder is that this bird that is one of the tiniest parts of creations was created to join with the seasons, the sun, moon, and stars to respond — to live as witnesses — to the glory of God.
What’s even more amazing is that’s exactly what we were created to do as well, but as a part of God's perfect design, He gave us a choice. In other words, every single moment of every single day, we have been given the honor of responding — boldly and publicly living as witnesses — to his great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Many are facing very hard things right now. There are even some who are ok now but have no clue how hard this week is about to be. Some wish your Mama had sung that truth into you at such a young age, and since she didn’t, you feel like you will never catch up. To that I say...let God pursue you. Your job is to stand as a witness — to be compelled to join in with all of God’s choir to share what you’ve experienced about Him through Jesus Christ — to His great faithfulness... mercy and love! He will bring you forward!
“Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly armies. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created. He set them in position forever and ever; he gave an order that will never pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, all sea monsters and ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and cloud, stormy wind that executes his command, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, creatures that crawl and flying birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, young men as well as young women, old and young together. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth. He has raised up a horn for his people, resulting in praise to all his faithful ones, to the Israelites, the people close to him. Hallelujah!” Psalms 148:1-14
SUPER SIMPLE SUPPER...
Spring Roll Ingredients
1/2 head cabbage, chopped
2 cups snow peas, sliced
5 carrots, shredded
1 avocado, cubed
4 scallions, sliced
1-2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped fine
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
1 lime, sliced Mix all ingredients except lime slices. Place in a bowl and toss with “Peanut Sauce”. Top with a squeeze of lime juice.
“Peanut” Sauce
1/2 cup almond butter
2 dates, soaked until soft (save soaking water)
1/2 cup date soaking water
1 teaspoon chili sauce
2 tablespoons Coconut Aminos
1 small clove garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
Himalayan salt and pepper to taste.
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. You can add more of the date water if it is too thick.
As you can see, plant-based meals are not boring at all!! BUT if you need a little "meat" you can add ground turkey or keep it vegetarian with tofu crumbles. I use a brand called BOCA. Don't knock it until you've tried it!!
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